Quick connect mechanism for a draw stud assembly

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for creating holes in a workpiece includes a knockout punch tool having a movable piston. The apparatus also includes a draw stud assembly having a connector attachable to the movable piston, a draw stud, and a quick connect mechanism including mating first and second thread segments on the connector and the draw stud, respectively. The connector and the draw stud are movable between a first relative orientation where the mating first and second thread segments are misaligned to permit axial movement between the connector and the draw stud, and a second relative orientation where the mating first and second thread segments are aligned and engaged to inhibit axial movement between the connector and the draw stud.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.15/210,334 filed on Jul. 14, 2016, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,549,445, whichclaims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/192,308filed on Jul. 14, 2015, the entire contents of both of which areincorporated by reference herein.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to quick connect mechanisms, and more particularlyto quick connect mechanisms for draw stud assemblies.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Draw stud assemblies are typically used in conjunction with a knockoutpunch tool for creating holes in a workpiece. Such draw stud assembliesusually include a draw stud, a punch threaded to a first end of the drawstud, a die through which the draw stud extends, and a connectorthreaded to a second end of the draw stud to facilitate attachment ofthe draw stud assembly to a movable piston of the punch tool. Inoperation, the punch is first threaded to the first end of the drawstud, and the draw stud is inserted through a pre-made hole in theworkpiece having a nominal diameter sufficient to fit the draw stud. Thedie is then inserted over the draw stud and onto the workpiece, with thethreaded second end of the draw stud protruding through a hole in thedie. The connector is then threaded to the second end of the draw studto secure the draw stud assembly onto the workpiece, and the connectoris attached to the movable piston of the punch tool before the punchtool is actuated. After the punch creates a hole in the workpiece, thedraw stud assembly must be disassembled by unthreading the connector,the punch, or both from the draw stud before being reassembled again fora subsequent punching operation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides, in one aspect, an apparatus for creating holesin a workpiece. The apparatus includes a knockout punch tool having amovable piston. The apparatus also includes a draw stud assembly havinga connector attachable to the movable piston, a draw stud, and a quickconnect mechanism including mating first and second thread segments onthe connector and the draw stud, respectively. The connector and thedraw stud are movable between a first relative orientation where themating first and second thread segments are misaligned to permit axialmovement between the connector and the draw stud, and a second relativeorientation where the mating first and second thread segments arealigned and engaged to inhibit axial movement between the connector andthe draw stud.

Other features and aspects of the invention will become apparent byconsideration of the following detailed description and accompanyingdrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view of a draw stud assembly in accordance with anembodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of a ball pull of the draw stud assembly of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a bottom perspective view of the ball pull of FIG. 2 .

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a draw stud of the draw stud assembly ofFIG. 1 .

FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of the draw stud ofFIG. 4 .

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the draw stud assembly of FIG. 1 , shownwith the ball pull detached from the draw stud, positioned on aworkpiece.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the draw stud assembly of FIG. 1 , shownwith the ball pull attached to the draw stud, positioned on theworkpiece and ready for a punching operation.

FIG. 8 is a side view of a draw stud assembly in accordance with anotherembodiment of the invention.

FIG. 9 is a bottom perspective view of a ball pull of the draw studassembly of FIG. 8 .

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a draw stud of the draw stud assemblyof FIG. 8 .

FIG. 11 is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of the draw stud ofFIG. 10 .

FIG. 12 is a side view of a draw stud assembly in accordance with yetanother embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 13 is a side view of a connector and a ball pull of the draw studassembly of FIG. 12 .

FIG. 14 is a bottom perspective view of the ball pull of FIG. 13

FIG. 15 is a side view of a draw stud of the draw stud assembly of FIG.12 .

Before any embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it isto be understood that the invention is not limited in its application tothe details of construction and the arrangement of components set forthin the following description or illustrated in the following drawings.The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced orof being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood thatthe phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose ofdescription and should not be regarded as limiting.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 illustrates a draw stud assembly 10 for use with a knockout punchtool 12 (FIG. 7 ) in punching holes in a workpiece. The assembly 10includes a draw stud 18 defining a longitudinal axis A and a removableconnector, which in the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 1 is a ball pull14, that secures the draw stud 18 to the knockout punch tool 12.

With reference to FIGS. 2 and 3 , the ball pull 14 includes acylindrical body 22 having a cylindrical bore 26 defined at leastpartially by a back wall 30, and a ball or spherical-shaped portion 28integrally formed with the cylindrical body 22 that is attachable to apiston 24 (FIG. 7 ) of the knockout punch tool 12. The ball pull 14 alsoincludes a pair of opposed coarse thread segments 32 formed within thebore 26 and a pair of opposed unthreaded portions 34 directly adjacentthe coarse thread segments 32 that extend the length of the bore 26. Theindividual threads in each thread segment 32 may be helical (i.e.,define a helix angle relative to a longitudinal axis of the ball pull14) or oriented transverse to the longitudinal axis of the ball pull 14.The bull pull 14 further includes an unthreaded, annular groove 40 thatextends circumferentially around the bore 26 and is located axiallybetween the coarse thread segments 32 and the back wall 30.Additionally, the ball pull 14 includes a pair of bores 36 (only one ofwhich is shown in each of FIGS. 2 and 3 ) extending through thecylindrical body 22, communicating the cylindrical bore 26 and an outerperiphery of the body 22. Respective stop lugs 38 (only one of which isshown in FIG. 3 ) are received within the bores 36, with distal ends ofthe stop lugs 38 extending into the cylindrical bore 26 and positionedin the annular groove 40 adjacent the back wall 30 and the respectivethread segments 32. In the illustrated embodiment of the draw studassembly 10, the stop lugs 38 are configured as pins interference orpress-fit within the respective bores 36. Alternatively, the stop lugs38 may be integrally formed with the body 22. As a further alternative,the bores 36 and the stop lugs 38 may have corresponding threads, andthe stop lugs 38 are threaded within the bores 36.

With reference to FIG. 4 , the draw stud 18 includes a first end 46having fine threads 50 that are engageable with corresponding threads ofa cutter 52 (FIG. 7 ), and an opposite, second end 54 having a pair ofcoarse thread segments 58 that are engageable with the respective coarsethread segments 32 of the ball pull 14. The individual threads in eachthread segment 58 may be helical (i.e., define a helix angle relative tothe longitudinal axis A of the draw stud 18) or oriented transverse tothe longitudinal axis A of the draw stud 18. The draw stud 18 alsoincludes opposed unthreaded portions or flats 62 adjacent the threadsegments 58. The flats 62 are positioned on opposite sides of the axis A(FIG. 5 ), permitting the second end 54 of the draw stud 18 to beinserted axially into the bore 26 when the flats 62 are aligned with thethread segments 32 of the ball pull 14. The draw stud 18 furtherincludes a control thread segment 66 adjacent each of the threadsegments 58, and a notch 70 in each of the control thread segments 66into which the stop lugs 38 are receivable. The control thread segments66 are configured to be rotatable within the annular groove 40 and havea thickness T that is greater than a pitch P between individual threadsin the coarse thread segments 32, 58 of the ball pull 14 and the drawstud 18. Therefore, the control thread segments 66 inhibit relativerotation between the ball pull 14 and the draw stud 18 until the secondend 54 of the draw stud 18 is fully inserted within the cylindrical bore26, with the control thread segments 66 positioned adjacent the backwall 30 and within the annular groove 40.

With reference to FIGS. 3 and 5 , a combination of the thread segments32, 58 on the ball pull 14 and the draw stud 18, respectively, defines aquick connect mechanism that facilitates quick removal and reattachmentof the ball pull 14 from the draw stud 18, as opposed to using aconventional threaded arrangement between the ball pull 14 and the drawstud 18. The ball pull 14 is rotatable about the axis A relative to thedraw stud 18 between a first relative orientation in which the ball pull14 is unlocked from the draw stud 18, and a second relative orientationin which the ball pull 14 is locked to the draw stud 18. In the firstrelative orientation, the thread segments 58 of the draw stud 18 aremisaligned with the thread segments 32 of the ball pull 14. Morespecifically, the thread segments 58 of the draw stud 18 are received byand in facing relation with the unthreaded portions 34 of the ball pull14, and the thread segments 32 of the ball pull 14 are adjacent to andin facing relation with the flats 62 of the draw stud 18, thus allowingthe second end 54 of the draw stud 18 to be axially inserted within andremovable from the cylindrical bore 26 in the ball pull 14. Also in thefirst relative orientation, the stop lugs 38 are received within therespective notches 70. In the second relative orientation, the threadsegments 58 of the draw stud 18 are engaged with the thread segments 32of the ball pull 14 and the stop lugs 38 contact the respective flats62, thereby limiting the extent to which the thread segments 32, 58 canengage by an amount equal to an arc length of the thread segments 32, 58(e.g., by approximately 90 degrees).

With reference to FIGS. 6 and 7 , the draw stud 18 is insertable througha pre-formed hole in a workpiece W having a diameter at least nominallygreater than that of the draw stud 18. The cutter 52 is threaded to thefirst end 46 of the draw stud 18 (via the fine threads 50) and mayremain attached to the draw stud 18 between consecutive hole-punchingoperations performed on the workpiece W. Then, a die D is positionedatop the workpiece W with the second end 54 of the draw stud 18protruding from the die D (FIG. 6 ). The draw stud 18 with attachedcutter 52 is then ready to be attached to the ball pull 14.

Prior to inserting the second end 54 of the draw stud 18 into thecylindrical bore 26, the thread segments 58, 32 of the draw stud 18 andthe ball pull 14, respectively, must be positioned in the first relativeorientation. The second end 54 of the draw stud 18 is then axiallyinserted into the cylindrical bore 26 until the second end 54 contactsthe back wall 30, at which instant the control thread segments 66 on thedraw stud 18 are aligned with the annular groove 40 and the stop lugs 38are received in the respective notches 70. The ball pull 14 is thenrotated relative to the draw stud 18 about the axis A, in a firstdirection toward the second relative orientation, thereby engaging thethread segments 32, 58 to lock the ball pull 14 to the draw stud 18. Thestop lugs 38 contact the respective flats 62 and limit the extent towhich the ball pull 14 may be rotated relative to the draw stud 18,thereby indicating the ball pull 14 and the draw stud 18 are in thesecond relative orientation and the thread segments 32, 58 are fullyengaged. Accordingly, the ball pull 14 is rotatable by an amount equalto an arc length of the thread segments 58, 32 (e.g., by approximately90 degrees). Because the thickness T of the control thread segments 66is greater than the pitch P between individual threads in the threadsegments 32 on the ball pull 14, the control thread segments 66 ensurethat the draw stud 18 cannot be prematurely rotated upon insertion intothe bore 26 (FIG. 5 ). Upon the ball pull 14 reaching the secondrelative position (shown in FIG. 7 ), it becomes locked to the draw stud18 to thereby inhibit relative axial movement between the ball pull 14and the draw stud 18. Thereafter, the ball pull 14 may be attached to apiston of a knockout punch tool (via an intermediate connector having aradial recess through which the ball-shaped portion 28 is insertable) toinitiate a hole-punching operation.

To disconnect the ball pull 14 from the draw stud 18, the ball pull 14is rotated an opposite, second direction back toward the first relativeorientation until the stop lugs 38 are received in the respectivenotches 70 limiting further rotation, thereby disengaging the threadsegments 32, 58 so that the ball pull 14 may be quickly removed from thesecond end 54 of the draw stud 18 (FIG. 6 ). Thereafter, the die D maybe lifted from the workpiece W and the draw stud 18 may be repositionedto another pre-formed hole in the workpiece W (with the cutter 52remaining attached) for a subsequent hole-punching operation. In thismanner, the draw stud assembly 10 may be quickly moved betweenconsecutive hole-punching operations.

It should be understood that, in some embodiments, the stop lugs 38 maybe positioned on the draw stud 18 and the notches 70 may be definedwithin the bore 26 of the ball pull 14. Additionally, in someembodiments, there may be any number of corresponding thread segments32, 58 that may be rotated into and out of engagement on the ball pull18 and the draw stud 14, respectively.

FIGS. 8-11 illustrate a draw stud assembly 10 a in accordance withanother embodiment of the invention. Like components and features areidentified with like reference numerals plus the letter “a” and will notbe described again in detail. The draw stud assembly 10 a of FIGS. 8-11is substantially identical to the draw stud assembly 10 of FIGS. 1-7 .However, the quick connect mechanism defined by the second end 54 a ofthe draw stud 18 a, and the bore 26 a of the ball pull 14 a isdifferent. Therefore, only this difference between the two embodimentswill be described in detail. The manner of operation of the draw studassembly 10 a of FIGS. 8-11 is essentially identical to that describedabove in connection with the draw stud assembly 10 of FIGS. 1-7 .

With reference to FIG. 9 , the ball pull 14 a includes several coarsethread segments 32 a formed within the bore 26 a that are evenlycircumferentially spaced about the axis A (FIG. 10 ), and severalunthreaded portions 34 a directly adjacent the coarse thread segments 32a, extending the length of the bore 26 a. In some embodiments, theindividual threads in each thread segment 32 a may be helical (i.e.,define a helix angle relative to a longitudinal axis of the ball pull 14a) or oriented transverse to the longitudinal axis of the ball pull 14a. In the illustrated embodiment, there are three opposed coarse threadsegments 32 a and three unthreaded portions 34 a that are spacedapproximately 120 degrees apart about the axis A around the bore 26 a.In the illustrated embodiment, there is only one stop lug 38 a. However,in some embodiments, there may be two or three stop lugs 38 a, eachspaced approximately 120 degrees apart.

With reference to FIGS. 10-11 , the second end 54 a of the draw stud 14a includes several coarse thread segments 58 a that are evenlycircumferentially spaced about the axis A, and engageable with therespective coarse thread segments 32 a of the ball pull 14 a. In someembodiments, the individual threads in each thread segment 58 a may behelical (i.e., define a helix angle relative to the longitudinal axis Aof the draw stud 18 a) or oriented transverse to the longitudinal axis Aof the draw stud 18 a. The draw stud 18 a also includes unthreadedportions or flats 62 a adjacent the thread segments 58 a. In theillustrated embodiment, there are three flats 62 a that areapproximately 120 degrees apart about the axis A. Likewise, three coarsethread segments 58 a alternate with the flats 62 a and are alsoapproximately 120 degrees apart about the axis A (FIG. 11 ). The flats62 a and the coarse thread segments 58 a of the draw stud 18 a areconfigured to permit the second end 54 a of the draw stud 18 a to beinserted axially into the bore 26 a when the flats 62 a are aligned withthe thread segments 32 a of the ball pull 14 a.

The draw stud 18 a further includes a control thread segment 66 aadjacent each of the three thread segments 58 a, and a notch 70 adefined in each of the control thread segments 66 a into which the stoplugs 38 a are receivable. Similar to the draw stud assembly 10 of FIGS.1-7 , the control thread segments 66 a inhibit relative rotation betweenthe ball pull 14 a and the draw stud 18 a until the second end 54 a ofthe draw stud 18 a is fully inserted within the cylindrical bore 26 a,with the control thread segments 66 a positioned adjacent the back wall30 a and within the annular groove 40 a.

The three notches 70 a are evenly circumferentially spaced about theaxis A (i.e., the notches 70 a are spaced by approximately 120 degrees).The notches 70 a are configured such that the stop lug 38 a is receivedwithin one of the notches 70 a when the draw stud 18 a is inserted intothe bore 26 a of the ball pull 14 a while the thread segments 32 a, 58 aare in a first relative orientation. When the draw stud 18 a is rotatedrelative to the ball pull 14 a into the second relative orientation, thestop lug 38 a contacts a corresponding one of the flats 62 a.Accordingly, the notches 70 a and the flats 62 a inhibit the draw stud18 a and the ball pull 14 a from being rotated beyond the first andsecond relative orientations by limiting the extent which the threadsegments 32 a, 58 a can engage by an amount equal to an arc length ofthe thread segments 32, 58 a. In the illustrated embodiment, the drawstud 18 a and the ball pull 14 a may be rotated relative to one anotherby approximately 60 degrees about the axis A between the first andsecond relative orientations.

With continued reference to FIGS. 9-11 , the quick connect mechanismfurther includes six detent recesses 90 defined in the back wall 30 aand evenly circumferentially spaced about the axis A (i.e., the detentrecesses 90 are spaced by approximately 60 degrees). The quick connectmechanism further includes a bore 92 defined in the second end 54 a ofthe draw stud 18 a extending parallel to the axis A, a detent 94 withinthe bore 92, and a biasing member (e.g., a compression spring, notshown) that biases the detent 94 upward from the frame of reference ofFIG. 11 to protrude from the bore 92 toward the ball pull 14 a in adirection parallel to axis A. In the illustrated embodiment, the detent94 is shaped as a sphere or ball. The detent 94 may be received in anyone of the detent recesses 90 when the second end 54 a of the draw stud18 a is inserted into the bore 26 a of the ball pull 14 a in the firstrelative orientation. When relatively rotating the draw stud 18 a andthe ball pull 14 a from the first relative orientation to the secondrelative orientation, the detent 94 is urged out of a first one of thedetent recesses 90 against the bias of the biasing member, until thedraw stud 18 a and the ball pull 14 a are rotated into the secondrelative orientation where the detent 94 is biased into an adjacentdetent recess 90. Accordingly, the detent 94 and the detent recesses 90provide a tactile indication that the draw stud 18 a and the ball pull14 a have been fully rotated into the second relative orientation andthe thread segments 32 a, 58 a are fully engaged. Similarly, the detent94 is urged out of the second one of the recesses 90 and biased into thefirst one of the recesses 90 when the draw stud 18 a and the ball pull14 a are returned to the first relative orientation to provide a tactileindication that the draw stud 18 a and the ball pull 14 a are in thefirst relative orientation and the thread segments 32 a, 58 a are fullydisengaged. In addition, the detent 94 inhibits the draw stud 18 a andthe ball pull 14 a from being inadvertently moved from the secondrelative orientation to the first relative orientation.

FIGS. 12-15 illustrate a draw stud assembly 10 b in accordance withanother embodiment of the invention. Like components and features areidentified with like reference numerals plus the letter “b” and will notbe described again in detail. With the exception of the second end 54 bof the draw stud 18 b having an increased threaded length, as shown inFIG. 15 , the draw stud 18 b of FIGS. 12-15 is substantially similar tothe draw stud 18 a of FIGS. 8-11 . Also, in the draw stud assembly 10 bof FIGS. 12-15 , an intermediate connector 82 is positioned between thedraw stud 18 b and the ball pull 14 b. Therefore, only these differenceswill be described in detail.

With reference to FIG. 13 , on the opposite end of the ball-shapedportion 28 b, the ball pull 14 b includes a threaded end 78 for directlyconnecting the ball pull 14 b to a piston of a knockout punch or driver.The draw stud assembly 10 b further includes an intermediate connector82 having a cylindrical body 84 that defines a recess 86 therein. Thecylindrical body 84 further defines an axial opening 88 that is axiallyaligned with the bore 26 b along the axis A. The recess 86 extendstransversely through the cylindrical body 84 to the axial opening 88.The recess 86 and axial opening 88 are configured such that theball-shaped portion 28 b may be transversely inserted into the recess 86so that the ball pull 14 b aligns axially with the draw stud 14 b alongthe axis A. And, the axial opening 88 is sized to inhibit theball-shaped portion 26 b from being removed axially from the connector82. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 12 , the recess 86 includes awidth W1 greater than a width W2 of the ball-shaped portion 26 b,thereby creating a sufficient clearance for insertion of the ball-shapedportion 26 b therethrough. However, a width W3 of the axial opening 88is less than the width W2 of the ball-shaped portion 26 b, therebypreventing the ball-shaped portion 26 b from being pulled from the axialopening 88.

With reference to FIG. 14 , the body 84 of the connector 82 defines thebore 26 b and includes coarse thread segments 32 b and unthreadedportions 34 b adjacent the coarse thread segments 32 b, extending thelength of the bore 26 b. The individual threads in each thread segment32 b may be helical (i.e., define a helix angle relative to alongitudinal axis of the connector 82) or oriented transverse to thelongitudinal axis of the connector 82. Likewise, the individual threadsin each thread segment 58 b may be helical (i.e., define a helix anglerelative to the longitudinal axis A of the draw stud 18 b) or orientedtransverse to the longitudinal axis A of the draw stud 18 b. The bore 26b extends through the connector 82 and into the recess 86. The connector82 also includes a bore 36 b (FIG. 13 ) that extends through thecylindrical body 84 of the connector 82 and that is configured toreceive a stop lug 38 b (FIG. 14 ). A distal end of the stop lug 38 bextends into the cylindrical bore 26 b and is positioned adjacent therecess 86 and one of the thread segments 32 b. In addition to preventingthe connector 82 and the draw stud 18 b from being rotated beyond thefirst and second relative orientations by limiting the extent to whichthe thread segments 32 b, 58 b can engage, the stop lug 38 b inhibitsthe second end 54 b of the draw stud 18 b from being inserted throughthe bore 26 b and into the recess 86. In some embodiments, the connector82 includes three bores 36 b spaced apart from each other byapproximately 120 degrees about the axis A, and a corresponding stop lug38 b in each bore 36 b.

The draw stud 18 b is connected to the connector 82 in the same manneras the draw stud 18 a is connected to the ball pull 14 a of the drawstud assembly 10 of FIGS. 8-11 . Specifically, the second end 54 b ofthe draw stud 18 b is inserted into the bore 26 b of the connector 82while the thread segments 58 b, 32 b of the draw stud 18 b and theconnector 82, respectively, are positioned in the first relativeorientation. The draw stud 18 b is then rotated relative to the bore 26b to the second relative orientation, thereby engaging the threadsegments 58 b, 32 b of the draw stud 18 b and the connector 82,respectively, to lock the draw stud 18 b to the connector 82, inhibitingrelative axial movement of the draw stud 18 b. The draw stud 18 b andthe bore 26 b are rotated relative to each other by approximately 60degrees about the axis A between the first and second relativeorientations. Thereafter, the ball-shaped portion 28 b of the ball pull14 b, which is connected to a piston of a knockout punch or driver bythe threaded end 78, is transversely inserted into the recess 86 of theconnector 82.

To disconnect the draw stud 18 b from the connector 82, the draw stud 18b is rotated from the second relative orientation back to the firstrelative orientation, during which the thread segments 58 b, 32 b aremisaligned and disengaged. Thereafter, the draw stud 18 b is axiallyremoved from the connector 82.

Various features and advantages of the invention are set forth in thefollowing claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus for creating holes in a workpiece,the apparatus comprising: a knockout punch tool including a movablepiston; and a draw stud assembly including a connector attachable to themovable piston, a draw stud including a first end and a second end, acutter coupled to the first end of the draw stud such that the secondend of the draw stud is configured to be insertable through a pre-formedhole in the workpiece, and a connect mechanism including mating firstand second thread segments on the connector and the draw stud,respectively; wherein the connector and the draw stud are movablebetween a first relative orientation where the mating first and secondthread segments are misaligned to permit axial movement between theconnector and the draw stud, and a second relative orientation where themating first and second thread segments are aligned and engaged toinhibit axial movement between the connector and the draw stud, andwherein the connect mechanism further includes a control thread segmentadjacent one of the first thread segment or the second thread segment,wherein the control thread segment inhibits the connector and the drawstud from being rotated from the first relative orientation to thesecond relative orientation when the control thread segment iscircumferentially aligned with any threads in the other of the firstthread segment or the second thread segment, an end of the controlthread segment including a notch for limiting a relative rotation of thedraw stud and the connector.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein theconnector includes one of a protrusion or a recess, and wherein the oneof the protrusion or the recess enables the connector to be attachableto the movable piston.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controlthread segment is located on the draw stud axially adjacent the secondthread segment.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control threadsegment includes a thickness greater than a pitch between individualthreads in either the first thread segment or the second thread segment.5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control thread segment is onthe second end.
 6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the control threadsegment is adjacent the second thread segment.
 7. The apparatus of claim1, wherein the draw stud defines a longitudinal axis, and wherein theconnector and the draw stud are relatively rotatable about thelongitudinal axis between the first relative orientation and the secondrelative orientation.
 8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the connectmechanism further includes a stop member, coupled to one of theconnector or the draw stud, engageable with an unthreaded portion on theother of the connector or the draw stud to limit an extent to which theconnector is rotatable relative to the draw stud in a first direction,the stop member receivable in the notch to limit an extent to which theconnector is rotatable relative to the draw stud in a second directionopposite the first direction.
 9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein thestop member is coupled to the connector and adjacent the first threadsegment, and wherein the notch and the unthreaded portion are defined onthe draw stud.
 10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the notch isdefined in the second end of the draw stud.
 11. The apparatus of claim1, wherein the connect mechanism further includes mating third andfourth thread segments on the connector and the draw stud, respectively.12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the connector defines alongitudinal axis, and wherein the first and third thread segments onthe connector are in facing relationship on opposite sides of thelongitudinal axis.
 13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the connectmechanism further includes fifth and sixth thread segments on theconnector and the draw stud, respectively, wherein the first, third, andfifth thread segments are equally spaced around the longitudinal axis ofthe connector, and wherein the second, fourth, and sixth thread segmentsare equally spaced around a longitudinal axis on the draw stud.
 14. Theapparatus of claim 1, wherein the connect mechanism further includesfirst and second unthreaded portions of the connector and the draw stud,respectively, wherein the first thread segment is in facing relationshipwith the second unthreaded portion of the draw stud when in the firstrelative orientation, and wherein the second thread segment is in facingrelationship with the first unthreaded portion of the connector when inthe first relative orientation.
 15. The apparatus of claim 1, whereinthe connector includes a cylindrical body, and wherein the first threadsegment is defined within a cylindrical bore in the cylindrical body.16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the connector includes aball-shaped portion extending from an end of the cylindrical bodyopposite the cylindrical bore.
 17. The apparatus of claim 15, whereinthe connector includes an axial opening on an end of the cylindricalbody opposite to the cylindrical bore, and a recess extendingtransversely through the cylindrical body to the axial opening.
 18. Theapparatus of claim 17, further comprising a ball pull directlyattachable to the movable piston, wherein the ball pull includes aball-shaped portion insertable through the recess and into the axialopening of the connector, wherein the axial opening is sized to inhibitthe ball-shaped portion from being removed axially from the connector.19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein a width of the recess is greaterthan a width of the ball-shaped portion of the ball pull, and wherein awidth of the axial opening is less than the width of the ball-shapedportion.
 20. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the connect mechanismfurther includes a plurality of detent recesses defined in one of theconnector or the draw stud, each of the plurality of detent recessesengageable with a detent within the other of the connector or the drawstud, wherein the detent is received by a bore including a biasingmember that biases the detent outward from the bore; and wherein in thefirst relative orientation, the detent is biased toward and received bya first detent recess and in the second relative orientation, the detentis biased toward and received by a second detent recess.
 21. Anapparatus for creating holes in a workpiece, the apparatus comprising: aknockout punch tool including a movable piston; and a draw stud assemblyincluding a connector attachable to the movable piston, a draw studincluding a first end and a second end, a cutter coupled to the firstend of the draw stud such that the second end of the draw stud isconfigured to be insertable through a pre-formed hole in the workpiece,and a connect mechanism including mating first and second threadsegments on the connector and the draw stud, respectively; wherein theconnector and the draw stud are movable between a first relativeorientation where the mating first and second thread segments aremisaligned to permit axial movement between the connector and the drawstud, and a second relative orientation where the mating first andsecond thread segments are aligned and engaged to inhibit axial movementbetween the connector and the draw stud, wherein the connect mechanismfurther includes a plurality of detent recesses defined in one of theconnector or the draw stud, each of the plurality of detent recessesengageable with a detent within the other of the connector or the drawstud, wherein the detent is received by a bore including a biasingmember that biases the detent outward from the bore, and wherein in thefirst relative orientation, the detent is biased toward and received bya first detent recess and in the second relative orientation, the detentis biased toward and received by a second detent recess.